198 FRUIT AND ITS CULTIVATION. 



therefore be relied upon to yield crops, as in the warmer 

 climate of France, Italy, etc. 



Propagation. Although readily reared from seed, trees 

 thus obtained rarely fruit satisfactorily. Seedlings make 

 good ornamental trees for yielding timber, and that is all 

 that can be said in their favour. An exception must, how- 

 ever, be made of one variety, known as Juglans fertilis. 

 this coming true from nuts. Other methods are flute- 

 budding in September and saddle-grafting in late April or 

 May. Considerable skill is required to carry each method 

 out successfully, and therefore it is better to purchase 

 trees frpm a nursery. 



Soil and Situation. It may truly be said that, where 

 apples will thrive, so will walnuts. The ideal soil would 

 be a calcareous loam resting on a gravelly subsoil. Ex- 

 posed or low-lying, damp positions, are quite unsuitable. 

 A position, too, sheltered from north or east winds is very 

 desirable. 



Planting. The best time to plant is in October ; or, 

 failing then, in March. Take care to purchase trees that 

 have been frequently transplanted, and have a fair amount 

 of fibrous roots. Trees that are over large, more than 

 four or five years' old, and have few fibrous roots, should 

 be avoided. Make fairly large holes, so that the roots can 

 be spread out fully, and see the soil is made firm. Do 

 not plant less than 5oft. apart. See they are securely 

 staked, and during the first season have their roots kept 

 moist. Before planting it is well to trench each site 2ft. 

 to 3ft. deep, and 8ft. wide, so as to give the trees a good 

 start. 



Mode of Bearing. The flowers are ufli-sexual i.e., 

 male and female, borne separately on the same trees. The 

 males are borne in drooping catkins, and the females either 

 singly or in clusters of three, and cup-shaped, at the ter- 

 minals of the shoots. The males generally appear first, 



